Make the most of today, because the first week of spring is about to get chilly.

It may not be what comes to mind when spring is mentioned, but the next several days will be plagued with rain, snow, and storm-force winds.

The first day of spring has dawned fine and sunny for much of the country, though parts of the North Island have been shrouded in heavy fog.

However, the warm weather would depart overnight, as a "complex" low moved over the country, Metservice meteorologist Andy Best said.

"That low deepens and becomes a very significant feature as it moves to the east of the South Island," he said.

There will be blustery north-westerly winds, thunderstorms across the western parts of the North Island, and heavy showers in parts of the country.

Heading into next week, "very cold" southerlies will move across the country, bringing snow to "quite low levels" in much of the South Island, though it was difficult to predict how low it would get.

There are severe weather watches out for snow and heavy rain.

The system "becomes quite complex during Monday and Tuesday" and will track east up the North Island.

"That low deepens further and pushes those very cold southerlies up through the northern South Island and the lower North Island.

There would be "gale to storm force winds" at times.

"It's a very complex and evolving system so we are monitoring it throughout the day and throughout tonight and tomorrow.

"The first part of spring is really a transition period from winter to summer. Spring is always going to be very changeable," Best said.

Front expected to bring 'blizzard' conditions for South Island

A bitterly cold front is set to blast parts of the South tomorrow, including Dunedin where snow is expected to low levels.

MetService today issued a heavy snow watch for eastern and southern parts of the South Island below the Waimakariri River in Canterbury, saying a front would hit tomorrow evening and continue to bring snow and bitterly cold conditions through to Monday morning.

Road snowfall warnings were in place across the South Island, including SH1 from Dunedin to Waitati where snow was likely to accumulate above 200m.

From 8pm Sunday to 6am Monday 4cm to 8cm could accumulate about the summit of the road, with lesser amounts to 200m.

MetService said the complex low and associated fronts were expected to move east over the country during Sunday and Monday, bringing snow to the South and heavy rain to central parts of the country.

"People are advised that strong cold southerlies combined with snow is likely to create blizzard conditions about higher ground during this time.

"This [severe weather] watch is for significant amounts of snow about southern and western Fiordland, Southland, Otago, and Canterbury south of the Waimakariri River during Sunday evening and Monday morning.

"In addition, this watch is for heavy rain about Mount Taranaki and the Tararua Range."

The heavy snow watch for Southland, western and southern parts of Fiordland, and Otago (excluding north Otago) was in place for 12 hours from 6pm Sunday.

Snow was expected to lower to 300m to 400m during Sunday evening, then to 200m early Monday morning.

Significant accumulations were likely above 600m, with the possibility that snow accumulations could approach warning amounts above 400 metres.

The heavy snow watch for North Otago and parts of Canterbury south of the Waimakariri River was in place for 17 hours from 6pm Sunday.

Snow was expected to lower to 400m Sunday evening, then to 100m to 200m during Monday morning.

Significant snow accumulations were expected above 600m, and accumulations could approach warning amounts above 400m.

Snowfall warnings are in place for the following roads:

Lewis Pass (SH7)

Arthur's Pass (SH73)

Porters Pass (SH73)

Haast Pass (SH6)

Lindis Pass (SH8)

Crown Range Road

Milford Road (SH94)

Dunedin to Waitati Highway (SH1)

- additional reporting Otago Daily Times